1. Identify ways that corporations are a sustainability problem, referencing at least four examples from films you watched this semester.
There are many ways where corporate business practices can be construed as a sustainability problem. One way is how corporations like Exxon Mobil, Shell, and Halliburton’s entire business model for energy and energy extraction is a face-value example of a massive sustainability issue where not only are the energy sources used finite, but the extraction process does great damage to the surrounding environment. In addition, any corporation that utilizes massive shipping activities (and uses fossil fuel energy) is indirectly contributing to that practice through demand. Another way corporations can be a sustainability problem is when they show a complete lack of disregard for human health – for both their workers and their customers. In the film Blue Vinyl, vinyl corporations were pictured as having extremely unsafe and toxic conditions for their workers and families, exposing them to health dangers and rendering them to be at the great risk for cancer, neurological damage, birth defects and lung and kidney disease. In the film The Corporation, the Fox journalists who were featured in the show, “The Investigators”, were fired because they wanted to tell consumers the truth about Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) that was found in commercially sold milk. BGH was found to hold many health risks to consumers like carcinogens that may cause breast cancer, but Monsanto, the corporation who supplied the milk, paid Fox News to not air the segment. This example also leads into the corporate business practice of misinformation and how Fox News argued during the Monsanto trials that it was legal for them to not tell the truth. This can be considered a sustainability problem in that not telling consumers what is in their product can affect their health, the waste disposal, and the waterway systems. Pharmaceutical and chemical corporations along with their factories, for example, can affect the environment in this unsustainable way, as shown in Homo Toxicus, where the fish, through biomagnifications in the food chain, have ingested waste chemicals from human products and their production and have essentially poisoned themselves. This then comes back to humans who eat the poisoned fish. In some communities that are situated nearby to these polluting factories the number of miscarriages is abnormally high and the distribution of boys to girls is extremely uneven (twice as many girls as boys). Inuit children whose staple diet is fish (since poisoned with mercury) are shown to have birth defects like deafness. In addition to the physically unsustainable hardships corporations place on the community, they also influence people in a negatively unsustainable way mentally. Corporations spur people to indulge in mass consumerism by subtlety arguing that only material things will make them happy. Advertising companies are continuously telling people that they are not perfect – but if they wish to be all they need to do is buy their product, as shown in The Persuaders. The power corporations have over people’s emotions is astonishing and shocking. What was once a campaign to highlight what the product did, has evolved into emphasizing what a product means.
7. In a 2010 NY Magazine article, Jon Stewart describes his media team as "Soil enrichers. Maybe we can add a little fertilizer to the soil so that real people can come along and grow things.” What does Stewart mean, and how persuaded are you by the metaphor? The NY Magazine article is "America is a Joke"
In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon. When Jon Stewart describes his media team as “soil enrichers”, he means that they aim to bring to light how ridiculous certain things are currently in society. This will hopefully encourage people to fix the problems brought to attention, especially once they realize how ridiculous they look. In this way he is a helpful critic (although he does not personally identify as one) and what he is evaluating is society. Comedy is his weapon of choice to voice his reviews. The metaphor is that soil enrichers help plants (good things) grow by making the soil healthy. I believe that this metaphor works because not only does it get the generally apathetic population involved and interested, but in some cases the exposure and awareness of the portrayed issues have caused people to take action. This is illustrated by events like Indecision 2008, the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in 2010, the Occupy Wall Street movements, and the upcoming Indecision 2012 event. Indecision 2008 (a joint event from both the Daily Show and the Colbert Report) is commonly credited for influencing and raising the amount of youth voters during the last presidential election. The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear’s stated purpose was to provide a venue for attendees to be heard above what Stewart described as the more vocal and extreme 15–20% of Americans who "control the conversation" of United States politics, the argument being that these extremes demonize each other and engage in counterproductive actions, with a return to sanity intended to promote reasoned discussion. And finally, while the Occupy Wall Street movements isn’t at all associated with any of Jon Stewart’s or Stephen Colbert’s activities, the problems being protested have been subjects of ridicule on shows like Jon Stewart’s and have been discussed by them. One could argue that Occupy Wall Street is what grew out of the enriched soil - which a good thing, because its people taking action to get positive change, as the show intended.
8. Design a film intended to educate a particular audience about a sustainability problem. Describe the audience you intend to reach, and its characteristics (biases, ignorance, expertise, etc); the aim of the film; its narrative structure and its content.
If I were to make a film about a sustainability problem it would be about the environmental impact of tourism. The audience it would intend to reach would be mainland American westerners and travelling Asians. This is based on statistics given by the World Tourism Organization on the countries with the most tourists and expenditure. Germany is actually on the top of this list, but the Germans are much more environmentally aware and sensitive than Asian and American tourists. There are countless first-hand accounts and reports from tourist agencies in countries like Hawaii, Australia, and South Africa of how Asian and American tourists, whether by not understanding the custom or through not understanding directions, blatantly ignore signs or rules that say “do not pollute” or “do not cross fence” or “do not feed or touch the animals”. The aim of the film is to let potential tourists be aware of the impacts they are causing when they spend money on their vacations and to have them recognize they can make a difference with their buying power. The overall narrative structure of the film will primarily be through case studies and before and after accounts of each of the highlighted locations. The content of the film will include topics like animal shows and animal rides, where animals are forced out of their natural habitat and abused into submission to perform, often enduring incompatible climates, cruel training techniques, and insufficient living conditions. SeaWorld and the Singapore Zoo can be an example of this. In addition, a feature could focus on Thailand’s Tiger Temple, which was originally started as a sanctuary, but has since had reports starting from 2007 of animal abuse, where monks would spray tigers with their own urine to keep them in line. From there the film will show how places like Mount Everest have undergone environmental degradation through all the pollution hikers leave on it – as it is currently the most polluted mountain in the world. From the mountains the film will take viewers to the sea, where sun screen has caused coral bleaching in most reefs. The film will also talk about how tourism has shaped the social structure of many societies like in Egypt where the pyramids once stood alone and looked majestic but now with the tourist boom there are gaudy tents and trinket sellers milling around the entire perimeter. The same is true in many places with natural wonders like Hawaii’s Waikiki beach where hotels and resorts crowd the strip. The film will also talk about tourism’s impacts generally, how they are linked with the construction of general infrastructure such as roads and airports, and of tourism facilities, including resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, golf courses, and marinas. The negative impacts of tourism development can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which it depends. However, the film will then continue by talking about how tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. Programs like Responsible Travel put together trips that send tourists over to do volunteer work in their places of interests, like surveying wildlife or teaching English to children in third world countries. Other alternatives to mass tourism will be touched upon, such as sustainable tourism, ecotourism, and pro-poor tourism.
9. Many Americans are skeptical about climate change, and climate science. What do you think explains the skepticism? What do you think scientists should do to further enroll the public in concern about climate change? The articles listed below will provide material for your argument. Reference both articles in your answer.
The USA Today article claims that 52% of the population is skeptical about climate change. However, other articles from sources like the Huffington Post say the number is more like 86%. This illustrates that random sampling from the population has skewed results enough that the statistic might actually be unknown. What I think is actually happening is that it isn’t that the many Americans are denying climate change exists, it’s that a lot of them are having trouble believing that global climate change is being directly caused by anthropogenic activity. On top of that, while Americans have once prioritized the environment ahead of the economy for thirty years, in the wake of the economic downturn of 2008, a majority of Americans are now saying the economy is more important and are therefore not focusing as much on the environment as they are on their job security and immediate events in their daily lives. It is similar to what the article on the Perception Factor talks about – that the issue needs to be personal for concern to be raised about it. Of the minority left that do wholeheartedly think that global climate change is still a hoax (a poll by Yale and George Mason University revealed these people to mostly be Tea Party followers), the following might explain why. Psychologically the consequences of climate change might be too awful to contemplate. A coping mechanism may be to deny it outright, as if it was a monster hiding in the closet. Economically, the costs of a large scale effort to do anything about climate change may be too great. People who are swayed by this may believe that the economy and short term investment is more important. Politically, it may just be a debate in which one side just doesn’t want the other to be right. Epistemologically, scientists have known to have been on occasion, wrong – just like how everyone once believed that the world was flat, or that the Earth was the center of the universe. And finally, metaphysically, some people are adamant in believing that their religious deity (God) isn't going to let millions of people die in catastrophes like draught or floods all over the world.
To further enroll the public in concern about climate change, I think scientists should make their information accessible in ways other than academic journals and research reports in pay-to-see databases – something that much of the general public do not have direct access to. Scientists can also use indicators much more relevant to people’s daily lives, perhaps with regional relevancy, since that seemed to be the biggest issue that caused apathy. As the Perception Factor article states, the general public should also be more versed in risk management. This could be done through online podcasts or online workshops that the public can choose to be involved in for some rudimentary incentive, or through public speakers as it is a skill that may be useful in other areas of one’s life. This problem might also not even be an issue with how scientists are currently interacting with the public. The media hasn’t been focusing on the issue as much due to upcoming elections and economic and political priorities. In addition, the media conglomerates are free to report on whatever they want, even reports that aren’t based in scientific fact. So a media reform might be in order to really get the message across. In addition, public service announcements may be utilized to spread public awareness. A case study in Thailand on insurance ads showed that when commercials were directed by a well received movie director, the ads had much more personal and emotional appeal and attachment. If climate change PSA’s were filmed the same way through stories, as the USA Today article suggests, while incorporating real facts, then it is possible they would be more effective.
10. Explain, from your point of view, what the US government should do to advance environmental sustainability. What should the US government notdo? Together, your lists should include at least six items. Include concrete examples to illustrate your points.
I believe that what the US government should do to advance environmental sustainability is to pass more environmentally friendly regulations similar to the Clean Air and the Clean Water Act but for issues like waste disposal and lab-created chemicals. The Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act has significantly improved and air pollution and water pollution in some urban areas. However, air and water quality in general are still declining. Cancer rates, disease, and birth defects are rising due to exposure to contamination and synthetic chemicals and many towns are experiencing economic disasters due to habitat loss and high energy demands. Regulation is no longer sufficient at our current rate of destruction, contamination and consumption. To advance environmental sustainability the US government should also encourage creative problem solving. Since regulation is a signal of design failure, sustainability should seek innovative and effective design that can be incentivized by the government. Designs like walk-able cities and towns might be a good investment. In addition the government should not be allowed to cut EPA funding or shut it down, despite what Republican candidates for the 2012 presidency are proposing. I also think that the US government should have stricter restrictions for what water companies can do with the water supply, as proposed in the film Blue Gold. Residents should be allowed to collect rain water, for example, unless it is scientifically proven from reputable sources that it is unsafe to do so. The US government should also not allow corporations to take advantage of water sources. In this way the government should be expected to protect the public water and maintain control of it for the public. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration as well as the US Department of Agriculture should operate on a stricter code of regulations. For example, they should make it illegal to use bovine growth hormone on cows as it gets into people’s milk. They should also be much more strict on how food is produced in America, maybe through limiting how much food each farm can output, to combat issues like overcrowded living conditions for the produce and how pumped up animals are on steroids to develop quicker to meet demand. Subsidies for farming should also be handled differently and should offer more regional participation. One last thing that the government should not do is let corporations run the country. As it currently stands, corporations and businesses have too much sway in politics and therefore can get away with doing unsustainable activity. Fines against corporations no longer work because the fines imposed are actually quite minimal to the corporation. This needs to be addressed in a diplomatic and reasonable way.
12. Identify ten developments (in education, law, media, etc) that you think would help mobilize greater public awareness of and commitment to environmental sustainability.
To really have a population commit to environmental sustainability the want to do so must stem from individual personal decisions and expectations. Redefining social norms to reflect environmental sustainably would be the most effective development of all. However, smaller developments in several areas may facilitate reaching this conclusion. One way is to design better public transportation and to get rid of the stigma that public transportation is for the poor and dirty. In this example “better” refers to a system that is efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and clean. By installing projects that favor public transportation over roads, people will be more inclined to use public transportation systems due to convenience (as they once did with private cars). A second way is to develop educational programs that teach risk analysis and sustainable assessment to educate people how to make better decisions, and to be aware of the consequences of their actions, even beyond immediate effects (the production and product cycle, for example). This risk analysis education program may also influence them in making everyday decisions in a positive way. A third way is to re-evaluate zoning laws and land development to minimize suburban and urban sprawl. While industry should still be kept separate from residential neighborhoods, America could stand to benefit from a more European model of organization for residential areas, where walk ability and subtle advertising is encouraged and people could live above shops and among shops and places of interest, minimizing energy and transportation costs and fostering community development. A fourth way is to improve upon house, condo, and apartment standards themselves, incorporation energy efficient technologies and architecture and to provide more choices within that range for potential consumers. A fifth way is to regionalize and switch to renewable energy sources for towns and homes to live off the grid. Saving money has always been a strong incentive for people to change their habits and a lower electrical bill may entice them to live little more sustainably. A sixth way to mobilize greater public awareness and commitment to environmental sustainability is for the media to advertise and advocate for more environmental measures. There are a number of public service announcements on TVs and print ads in magazines and newspapers about things like forest fires (Smokey the Bear) and drugs (D.A.R.E) which could be geared towards sustainability issues (“Only you can help the environment”). A seventh way would be to organize and hold festivities or celebrations which showcase environmental themes or designs. Earth Day is an example of such an event as is the International Coastal Cleanup. Environmentally friendly businesses can sponsor and sell their wares to potential consumers while residents get exposed to different ways of living sustainably first hand. This is a response to how local governments can get involved with sustainable development. An eighth way is to re-evaluate the way people buy and choose their food. Supermarkets sell food laced with high fructose corn syrup, hormones, and waste paper pulp (disguised as cellulose). Local farmer markets and community gardens may be a healthier choice. Limiting big box stores like WalMart or Target may also encourage people to buy locally. A ninth way is to re-design the way work schedules and productivity is achieved. Many of these projects mentioned need time, expertise, and involvement. A lot of the reason to why we are facing so many environmental issues is because we are too heavily dependent on convenience. If time was better organized or workload wasn’t as heavy, other projects that feature sustainable development may have a better chance of being successful and people may be more inclined to make a commitment to environmental sustainability. Finally, a tenth possible development would be to change how retail and selling products work. A more transparent way to understand ingredient labels and what we are using in cleaning products and the like would probably influence companies to produce healthier products and for consumers to choose healthier alternatives. This reform is also related to the actual act of buying products. A behaviour study in Washington, D.C revealed that plastic bag usage dropped when not only there was a 10 cent charge in getting a bag, but also if the bag wasn’t immediately offered and customers had to ask for it. Peer pressure was cited as to what caused the decrease. If people start feeling embarrassed when they use plastic bags or water bottles, or aren’t being sustainable, then accepted social pressure will do the job of mobilizing greater public awareness of and commitment to environmental sustainability.
14. Scientific research demonstrating a link between toxic chemicals and skewed sexual development has developed considerably in recent years. Describe how this could be effectively communicated. What audience would you target? What media form (film, website, radio show) you would use? What research studies would you highlight (see news coverage of some of this research below)? How would you represent the state of the science? What kind of environmental and scientific literacy would you aim to cultivate? What “go fix it” strategies would you suggest? In answering this question, you can draw on news accessible here:http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/.
The target audience that will most likely be affected by the knowledge of toxic chemicals and its link to skewed sexual development would be young couples and parents. The most effective communication for this type of environmental campaign would be through mediums the target audience would most likely use, like advertisements on social networking websites, or on YouTube, directed to people of an age that it would be most relevant to (ages 20 and up). Magazines and stores that share the same audience like toy stores and furniture and food stores would also be effective locations for advertising. The best overall medium would most likely be a website with a strong marketing campaign as most people in that age bracket are more likely to use the internet to ask and search for answers to their questions. For example, if a young child refuses to stop biting people, a quick Google search may offer tips to deal with the problem. Advertisements on the sidebar may tell the reader “it is a growing worry in America that your children’s sexual development is being affected by toxic chemicals, click here to learn more”. The ad will then bring the reader to the website. The ability to just share links and feature them on blogs and online news articles makes the medium much more accessible. Small videos can also be used on the website to spread information. The research studies I would highlight include the rat hormone exposure study that looked at the effects of one dose of hormones on a female rat’s ovaries and neurological system, two studies that feature how in-utero exposure to toxins in plastic influence variations in infant behavior and reflex, and a study that discussed how there is a high chance of a link between prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and weight gain in children. I would represent the state of the science as “ongoing research” and that new conclusions are being formed all the time. In this way the website can act as an updating news source that focuses specifically on child development and toxic exposure. The kind of environmental and scientific literacy I would aim to cultivate through the website is one of which provokes its visitors into questioning what toxins are present in their immediate environment and to wonder if the risks are big enough that they would worry for the future health of their child. In this way the project aspires to spread environmental awareness, reduce toxins in the environment, and enact change through consumer choice. A “Go Fix It” strategy that the site can employ will include a searchable and browse-able database of known products that are unsafe for child development and a forum to ask and discuss about the topic, as well as recommended alternatives for the listed toxic products.
15. Assess how each of these videos about problems with our food system would likely impact viewers. What message is delivered by each film? What does each accomplish, and not? Which audiences would be most responsive?
In Transport: Food Miles, the video talks about how agriculture has changed from being a solar-based industry to a fossil-fuel one. Its main message really stresses how important it is to eat food that is produced locally. The film does a lot of in-depth coverage of how farmer markets and consumers have benefited from a personal exchange of healthy goods. I enjoyed the example of the restaurant in Pennsylvania that uses only locally produced food products and makes dishes for its menu based on what farmers can produce. I also found it especially inspiring that the restaurant owner was also able to organize such a great network of farmers, other restaurant owners, and Philadelphia citizens. However I noticed that while the video short claimed that the future meat (pigs and cows and the like) were treated much more humanely than slaughterhouses, they never touched on how these animals were killed on the sustainable farms. In addition, the director of the food market talked about how due to the fact that they were growing so much they had to start mirroring the bigger industry’s method of distribution. This makes me wonder if there is a line to where these operations should stop growing and if farmers cede to it. When the restaurant owner asked the farmer if he wanted more business, he said yes. However, at what point would more business constitute as too much business? When will it no longer be in their best interest to raise pigs and their other wares in their current sustainable way and when will they start to cut corners? I find that the audience that will be most responsive to this video would be people who live in large cities like Philadelphia or Los Angeles because there would be enough demand and interest to make projects like this feasible and relevant .
The Pig Picture’s main message is that factory farming is inhumane for the animals. Pigs that grow up in factory farms have been observed to exhibit behaviours similar to those of humans with extreme psychological problems. The pigs are also stressed due to living size constraints and the inability to properly care for their offspring. Natural instincts like the desire to make nests and forage for food are repressed. The lives of sows are the most stressful in that they are cycled through pregnancies as quickly as possible so that more pigs can be bred. The film also compares the natural and ideal behaviour of pigs to the life it is forced to have in a crate at factory farms pumped up on drugs and hormones. It also briefly mentions that the drugs used on the pigs become drug residue in our meat when we eat it. The audience that would be the most responsive to this video would be animal lovers and animal activists. It is also arguable that the video is slightly geared more towards women, in that women are statistically more likely to buy the groceries in a family, and therefore make the choices for which meat will be chosen. The video may seem more appealing to women because of its constant depiction of cute piglets and beautiful farm scenery juxtaposed to struggling and feces-covered baby pigs to invoke an emotional response. It is interesting to note that while the video condemns factory farming, it does not aim to convince its audience to stop eating meat, like other food-related documentaries. Instead, it just cautions the viewer to be aware of what they are supporting with their money and to opt for humanely raised pigs.
The Meatrix is a corny but educational animation that parodies the popular Matrix franchise. It uses its relevancy to a pop culture trend to appeal to audiences of a younger demographic and those who use the Internet. By keeping the video short enough to watch from an email and having the medium of choice be the cyberspace, the Meatrix became very successful with viral video marketing. The short video reveals that people usually think of a misconception when asked where their meat comes from. This misconception is that the pigs and other farm animals they eat all come from happy farms, able to roll in mud and have farmers call them by their names when they are fed. The reality is that the pigs and other farm animals are now coming from metal crates packed in factory-like settings that are unfit and dirty. Most animals never see daylight and can’t even turn around for the duration of their entire life. The video accomplishes its goal of spreading awareness by explaining the situation in a manner that is not so shockingly horrific due to its cartoon graphics, but is still able to instill a sense of urgency in the viewer to correct the problem. In this way the Meatrix aims to impact viewers in such a way that free-range products and organic food products will be much more preferable to buy than food produced from agro-corporations.
16. Write two exam questions that creatively test students’ analytic sophistication about environmental sustainability. Answer one of these questions.
List fifteen ways with different explanations in which you and your family can celebrate the holiday season with sustainable choices and five ways in which celebrations can be made sustainable from a regional (town or city) level. Include the effects the actions from a regional level will have on the environment and on people. Is it feasible to expect people to make this the expected social norm? How may this be achieved?
You are applying for grant that will fund a project to better your local community (Troy or a place you’ve lived in) in some environmental or sustainable way. The project must also encourage sustainable behaviour from people. Write about environmental problems your chosen location is currently experiencing, your project proposal (this only has to respond to one problem), and why you think it will work. Include relevant background information.
Honolulu, Hawaii has a major tourism industry with people flocking from all over the world to enjoy its sandy beaches, beautiful reefs, amazing culture, and pristine environment. People come to get married, go on vacation or honeymoons, compete in surf competitions, enjoy Hawaii’s rich and diverse historical context, or conduct business deals. This has rendered tourism in Hawaii to be a huge industry (and its main source of revenue)! Unfortunately, it is at a great cost. Local residents complain about how businesses are hiring people to move to Hawaii from the mainland instead of using local talent, and the displacement of workforce has led to other problems like space and overcrowding. In addition, businesses have to ship supplies often from the mainland to operate, a costly expenditure. There is also the issue of energy production, as Hawaii currently imports many of its energy sources. Trash, is another difficult to solve, due to the islands’ geography and the sheer amount of waste its residents produce. In fact, a famous beach and peninsula on Oahu called “Magic Island” is man-made, magically appearing overnight due to the displacement of trash and soil being dumped into the ocean by construction companies. Tourist behaviour is one of the biggest issues of all. Many tourists just won’t to relax in paradise. Since it’s not their home, it’s not their problem if the place gets trashed. They get to leave and forget about it. Sunscreen, makeup, and other creams tourists wear have caused massive coral bleaching in Hawaiian reefs, and coral degradation has also occurred due to physical damage by people swimming (possibly dancing) in the water. Ships (Naval and industry) that use Pearl Harbour dump their waste into the ocean, relying on dispersion as the primary method of waste removal. Developers who want to cater to tourists construct giant resorts that consume a lot of energy and add attractions that are harmful to the environment – horse walks on the beach at Discovery Bay? No wonder there are feces floating in the ocean water on that part of the island. Seafood restaurants contribute to overfishing in Hawaiian waters as well. In addition, many factories are built on Hawaiian soil, which adds to the negative perception of parts of Honolulu. Parts of the City of Honolulu have been referred to as “extremely ghetto”, as homeless people, gray metal fences, ugly buildings, stray starving dogs, introduced pests like rats, roaches, and mongoose, tar laden streets, and air pollution, are all that you’ll find there. Finally, (actually just the tip of the iceberg) agriculture in Hawaii (pineapple fields) have changed the overall island geography.
With the grant money I would produce a short film that would be played on all incoming flights to Hawaii’s airports. This film will implore visitors to explain some of the problems their actions might cause and to encourage them to make sustainable choices during their stay. A list of quick tips may be offered, like to not touch the sea turtles (this is illegal) and to be careful of what products get into the ocean. To better involve the community, local residents would be featured, telling the viewer why Hawaii’s environmental health is important to them. A website with a memorable URL will also be available to provide more information – including an approved list of activities, businesses, restaurants, and hotels that people can reference. This will improve relations between tourists and locals and remind tourists that they are the biggest impacts to the environment on the Hawaiian Islands.
I believe that the film will have an impact on tourists because they would be required by the airline to watch it, similar to safety instructional speeches. Most environmental films’ messages travel slowly, because not everyone is interested or is able to watch them, whether because they don’t know it exists or they don’t believe the subject is relevant to them. Since Hawaii is an island, the only feasible way for people to come in and out is through airplane therefore - voila! Look, it’s an instant captive and relevant audience! From them on, it is (informed) consumer choice and buyer beware.
17. Write a 400-word biosketch that describes where you will be and what you will have accomplished twenty years from now. The biosketch should be narrative rather than resume style. Include basic biographical and educational information, the expertise you have built and have become known for, and a brief description of important projects you have been a part of over this period of time. For an example, see the Wikipedia entry for Paul Farmer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Farmer)*
1. Identify ways that corporations are a sustainability problem, referencing at least four examples from films you watched this semester.
There are many ways where corporate business practices can be construed as a sustainability problem. One way is how corporations like Exxon Mobil, Shell, and Halliburton’s entire business model for energy and energy extraction is a face-value example of a massive sustainability issue where not only are the energy sources used finite, but the extraction process does great damage to the surrounding environment. In addition, any corporation that utilizes massive shipping activities (and uses fossil fuel energy) is indirectly contributing to that practice through demand. Another way corporations can be a sustainability problem is when they show a complete lack of disregard for human health – for both their workers and their customers. In the film Blue Vinyl, vinyl corporations were pictured as having extremely unsafe and toxic conditions for their workers and families, exposing them to health dangers and rendering them to be at the great risk for cancer, neurological damage, birth defects and lung and kidney disease. In the film The Corporation, the Fox journalists who were featured in the show, “The Investigators”, were fired because they wanted to tell consumers the truth about Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) that was found in commercially sold milk. BGH was found to hold many health risks to consumers like carcinogens that may cause breast cancer, but Monsanto, the corporation who supplied the milk, paid Fox News to not air the segment. This example also leads into the corporate business practice of misinformation and how Fox News argued during the Monsanto trials that it was legal for them to not tell the truth. This can be considered a sustainability problem in that not telling consumers what is in their product can affect their health, the waste disposal, and the waterway systems. Pharmaceutical and chemical corporations along with their factories, for example, can affect the environment in this unsustainable way, as shown in Homo Toxicus, where the fish, through biomagnifications in the food chain, have ingested waste chemicals from human products and their production and have essentially poisoned themselves. This then comes back to humans who eat the poisoned fish. In some communities that are situated nearby to these polluting factories the number of miscarriages is abnormally high and the distribution of boys to girls is extremely uneven (twice as many girls as boys). Inuit children whose staple diet is fish (since poisoned with mercury) are shown to have birth defects like deafness. In addition to the physically unsustainable hardships corporations place on the community, they also influence people in a negatively unsustainable way mentally. Corporations spur people to indulge in mass consumerism by subtlety arguing that only material things will make them happy. Advertising companies are continuously telling people that they are not perfect – but if they wish to be all they need to do is buy their product, as shown in The Persuaders. The power corporations have over people’s emotions is astonishing and shocking. What was once a campaign to highlight what the product did, has evolved into emphasizing what a product means.
7. In a 2010 NY Magazine article, Jon Stewart describes his media team as "Soil enrichers. Maybe we can add a little fertilizer to the soil so that real people can come along and grow things.” What does Stewart mean, and how persuaded are you by the metaphor? The NY Magazine article is "America is a Joke"
In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon. When Jon Stewart describes his media team as “soil enrichers”, he means that they aim to bring to light how ridiculous certain things are currently in society. This will hopefully encourage people to fix the problems brought to attention, especially once they realize how ridiculous they look. In this way he is a helpful critic (although he does not personally identify as one) and what he is evaluating is society. Comedy is his weapon of choice to voice his reviews. The metaphor is that soil enrichers help plants (good things) grow by making the soil healthy. I believe that this metaphor works because not only does it get the generally apathetic population involved and interested, but in some cases the exposure and awareness of the portrayed issues have caused people to take action. This is illustrated by events like Indecision 2008, the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in 2010, the Occupy Wall Street movements, and the upcoming Indecision 2012 event. Indecision 2008 (a joint event from both the Daily Show and the Colbert Report) is commonly credited for influencing and raising the amount of youth voters during the last presidential election. The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear’s stated purpose was to provide a venue for attendees to be heard above what Stewart described as the more vocal and extreme 15–20% of Americans who "control the conversation" of United States politics, the argument being that these extremes demonize each other and engage in counterproductive actions, with a return to sanity intended to promote reasoned discussion. And finally, while the Occupy Wall Street movements isn’t at all associated with any of Jon Stewart’s or Stephen Colbert’s activities, the problems being protested have been subjects of ridicule on shows like Jon Stewart’s and have been discussed by them. One could argue that Occupy Wall Street is what grew out of the enriched soil - which a good thing, because its people taking action to get positive change, as the show intended.
8. Design a film intended to educate a particular audience about a sustainability problem. Describe the audience you intend to reach, and its characteristics (biases, ignorance, expertise, etc); the aim of the film; its narrative structure and its content.
If I were to make a film about a sustainability problem it would be about the environmental impact of tourism. The audience it would intend to reach would be mainland American westerners and travelling Asians. This is based on statistics given by the World Tourism Organization on the countries with the most tourists and expenditure. Germany is actually on the top of this list, but the Germans are much more environmentally aware and sensitive than Asian and American tourists. There are countless first-hand accounts and reports from tourist agencies in countries like Hawaii, Australia, and South Africa of how Asian and American tourists, whether by not understanding the custom or through not understanding directions, blatantly ignore signs or rules that say “do not pollute” or “do not cross fence” or “do not feed or touch the animals”.
The aim of the film is to let potential tourists be aware of the impacts they are causing when they spend money on their vacations and to have them recognize they can make a difference with their buying power. The overall narrative structure of the film will primarily be through case studies and before and after accounts of each of the highlighted locations. The content of the film will include topics like animal shows and animal rides, where animals are forced out of their natural habitat and abused into submission to perform, often enduring incompatible climates, cruel training techniques, and insufficient living conditions. SeaWorld and the Singapore Zoo can be an example of this. In addition, a feature could focus on Thailand’s Tiger Temple, which was originally started as a sanctuary, but has since had reports starting from 2007 of animal abuse, where monks would spray tigers with their own urine to keep them in line. From there the film will show how places like Mount Everest have undergone environmental degradation through all the pollution hikers leave on it – as it is currently the most polluted mountain in the world. From the mountains the film will take viewers to the sea, where sun screen has caused coral bleaching in most reefs. The film will also talk about how tourism has shaped the social structure of many societies like in Egypt where the pyramids once stood alone and looked majestic but now with the tourist boom there are gaudy tents and trinket sellers milling around the entire perimeter. The same is true in many places with natural wonders like Hawaii’s Waikiki beach where hotels and resorts crowd the strip. The film will also talk about tourism’s impacts generally, how they are linked with the construction of general infrastructure such as roads and airports, and of tourism facilities, including resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, golf courses, and marinas. The negative impacts of tourism development can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which it depends. However, the film will then continue by talking about how tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. Programs like Responsible Travel put together trips that send tourists over to do volunteer work in their places of interests, like surveying wildlife or teaching English to children in third world countries. Other alternatives to mass tourism will be touched upon, such as sustainable tourism, ecotourism, and pro-poor tourism.
9. Many Americans are skeptical about climate change, and climate science. What do you think explains the skepticism? What do you think scientists should do to further enroll the public in concern about climate change? The articles listed below will provide material for your argument. Reference both articles in your answer.
*The Perception Factor: Climate Change Gets Personal. (Environmental Health Perspectives, 11/1/2010)
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.118-a484
*Heroes wanted in climate science story (USA Today, 11/20/2010)
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/2010-11-05-climate-story_N.htm
The USA Today article claims that 52% of the population is skeptical about climate change. However, other articles from sources like the Huffington Post say the number is more like 86%. This illustrates that random sampling from the population has skewed results enough that the statistic might actually be unknown. What I think is actually happening is that it isn’t that the many Americans are denying climate change exists, it’s that a lot of them are having trouble believing that global climate change is being directly caused by anthropogenic activity. On top of that, while Americans have once prioritized the environment ahead of the economy for thirty years, in the wake of the economic downturn of 2008, a majority of Americans are now saying the economy is more important and are therefore not focusing as much on the environment as they are on their job security and immediate events in their daily lives. It is similar to what the article on the Perception Factor talks about – that the issue needs to be personal for concern to be raised about it. Of the minority left that do wholeheartedly think that global climate change is still a hoax (a poll by Yale and George Mason University revealed these people to mostly be Tea Party followers), the following might explain why. Psychologically the consequences of climate change might be too awful to contemplate. A coping mechanism may be to deny it outright, as if it was a monster hiding in the closet. Economically, the costs of a large scale effort to do anything about climate change may be too great. People who are swayed by this may believe that the economy and short term investment is more important. Politically, it may just be a debate in which one side just doesn’t want the other to be right. Epistemologically, scientists have known to have been on occasion, wrong – just like how everyone once believed that the world was flat, or that the Earth was the center of the universe. And finally, metaphysically, some people are adamant in believing that their religious deity (God) isn't going to let millions of people die in catastrophes like draught or floods all over the world.
To further enroll the public in concern about climate change, I think scientists should make their information accessible in ways other than academic journals and research reports in pay-to-see databases – something that much of the general public do not have direct access to. Scientists can also use indicators much more relevant to people’s daily lives, perhaps with regional relevancy, since that seemed to be the biggest issue that caused apathy. As the Perception Factor article states, the general public should also be more versed in risk management. This could be done through online podcasts or online workshops that the public can choose to be involved in for some rudimentary incentive, or through public speakers as it is a skill that may be useful in other areas of one’s life. This problem might also not even be an issue with how scientists are currently interacting with the public. The media hasn’t been focusing on the issue as much due to upcoming elections and economic and political priorities. In addition, the media conglomerates are free to report on whatever they want, even reports that aren’t based in scientific fact. So a media reform might be in order to really get the message across. In addition, public service announcements may be utilized to spread public awareness. A case study in Thailand on insurance ads showed that when commercials were directed by a well received movie director, the ads had much more personal and emotional appeal and attachment. If climate change PSA’s were filmed the same way through stories, as the USA Today article suggests, while incorporating real facts, then it is possible they would be more effective.
10. Explain, from your point of view, what the US government should do to advance environmental sustainability. What should the US government notdo? Together, your lists should include at least six items. Include concrete examples to illustrate your points.
I believe that what the US government should do to advance environmental sustainability is to pass more environmentally friendly regulations similar to the Clean Air and the Clean Water Act but for issues like waste disposal and lab-created chemicals. The Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act has significantly improved and air pollution and water pollution in some urban areas. However, air and water quality in general are still declining. Cancer rates, disease, and birth defects are rising due to exposure to contamination and synthetic chemicals and many towns are experiencing economic disasters due to habitat loss and high energy demands. Regulation is no longer sufficient at our current rate of destruction, contamination and consumption. To advance environmental sustainability the US government should also encourage creative problem solving. Since regulation is a signal of design failure, sustainability should seek innovative and effective design that can be incentivized by the government. Designs like walk-able cities and towns might be a good investment. In addition the government should not be allowed to cut EPA funding or shut it down, despite what Republican candidates for the 2012 presidency are proposing. I also think that the US government should have stricter restrictions for what water companies can do with the water supply, as proposed in the film Blue Gold. Residents should be allowed to collect rain water, for example, unless it is scientifically proven from reputable sources that it is unsafe to do so. The US government should also not allow corporations to take advantage of water sources. In this way the government should be expected to protect the public water and maintain control of it for the public. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration as well as the US Department of Agriculture should operate on a stricter code of regulations. For example, they should make it illegal to use bovine growth hormone on cows as it gets into people’s milk. They should also be much more strict on how food is produced in America, maybe through limiting how much food each farm can output, to combat issues like overcrowded living conditions for the produce and how pumped up animals are on steroids to develop quicker to meet demand. Subsidies for farming should also be handled differently and should offer more regional participation. One last thing that the government should not do is let corporations run the country. As it currently stands, corporations and businesses have too much sway in politics and therefore can get away with doing unsustainable activity. Fines against corporations no longer work because the fines imposed are actually quite minimal to the corporation. This needs to be addressed in a diplomatic and reasonable way.
12. Identify ten developments (in education, law, media, etc) that you think would help mobilize greater public awareness of and commitment to environmental sustainability.
To really have a population commit to environmental sustainability the want to do so must stem from individual personal decisions and expectations. Redefining social norms to reflect environmental sustainably would be the most effective development of all. However, smaller developments in several areas may facilitate reaching this conclusion. One way is to design better public transportation and to get rid of the stigma that public transportation is for the poor and dirty. In this example “better” refers to a system that is efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and clean. By installing projects that favor public transportation over roads, people will be more inclined to use public transportation systems due to convenience (as they once did with private cars). A second way is to develop educational programs that teach risk analysis and sustainable assessment to educate people how to make better decisions, and to be aware of the consequences of their actions, even beyond immediate effects (the production and product cycle, for example). This risk analysis education program may also influence them in making everyday decisions in a positive way. A third way is to re-evaluate zoning laws and land development to minimize suburban and urban sprawl. While industry should still be kept separate from residential neighborhoods, America could stand to benefit from a more European model of organization for residential areas, where walk ability and subtle advertising is encouraged and people could live above shops and among shops and places of interest, minimizing energy and transportation costs and fostering community development. A fourth way is to improve upon house, condo, and apartment standards themselves, incorporation energy efficient technologies and architecture and to provide more choices within that range for potential consumers. A fifth way is to regionalize and switch to renewable energy sources for towns and homes to live off the grid. Saving money has always been a strong incentive for people to change their habits and a lower electrical bill may entice them to live little more sustainably. A sixth way to mobilize greater public awareness and commitment to environmental sustainability is for the media to advertise and advocate for more environmental measures. There are a number of public service announcements on TVs and print ads in magazines and newspapers about things like forest fires (Smokey the Bear) and drugs (D.A.R.E) which could be geared towards sustainability issues (“Only you can help the environment”). A seventh way would be to organize and hold festivities or celebrations which showcase environmental themes or designs. Earth Day is an example of such an event as is the International Coastal Cleanup. Environmentally friendly businesses can sponsor and sell their wares to potential consumers while residents get exposed to different ways of living sustainably first hand. This is a response to how local governments can get involved with sustainable development. An eighth way is to re-evaluate the way people buy and choose their food. Supermarkets sell food laced with high fructose corn syrup, hormones, and waste paper pulp (disguised as cellulose). Local farmer markets and community gardens may be a healthier choice. Limiting big box stores like WalMart or Target may also encourage people to buy locally. A ninth way is to re-design the way work schedules and productivity is achieved. Many of these projects mentioned need time, expertise, and involvement. A lot of the reason to why we are facing so many environmental issues is because we are too heavily dependent on convenience. If time was better organized or workload wasn’t as heavy, other projects that feature sustainable development may have a better chance of being successful and people may be more inclined to make a commitment to environmental sustainability. Finally, a tenth possible development would be to change how retail and selling products work. A more transparent way to understand ingredient labels and what we are using in cleaning products and the like would probably influence companies to produce healthier products and for consumers to choose healthier alternatives. This reform is also related to the actual act of buying products. A behaviour study in Washington, D.C revealed that plastic bag usage dropped when not only there was a 10 cent charge in getting a bag, but also if the bag wasn’t immediately offered and customers had to ask for it. Peer pressure was cited as to what caused the decrease. If people start feeling embarrassed when they use plastic bags or water bottles, or aren’t being sustainable, then accepted social pressure will do the job of mobilizing greater public awareness of and commitment to environmental sustainability.
14. Scientific research demonstrating a link between toxic chemicals and skewed sexual development has developed considerably in recent years. Describe how this could be effectively communicated. What audience would you target? What media form (film, website, radio show) you would use? What research studies would you highlight (see news coverage of some of this research below)? How would you represent the state of the science? What kind of environmental and scientific literacy would you aim to cultivate? What “go fix it” strategies would you suggest? In answering this question, you can draw on news accessible here: http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/.
The target audience that will most likely be affected by the knowledge of toxic chemicals and its link to skewed sexual development would be young couples and parents. The most effective communication for this type of environmental campaign would be through mediums the target audience would most likely use, like advertisements on social networking websites, or on YouTube, directed to people of an age that it would be most relevant to (ages 20 and up). Magazines and stores that share the same audience like toy stores and furniture and food stores would also be effective locations for advertising. The best overall medium would most likely be a website with a strong marketing campaign as most people in that age bracket are more likely to use the internet to ask and search for answers to their questions. For example, if a young child refuses to stop biting people, a quick Google search may offer tips to deal with the problem. Advertisements on the sidebar may tell the reader “it is a growing worry in America that your children’s sexual development is being affected by toxic chemicals, click here to learn more”. The ad will then bring the reader to the website. The ability to just share links and feature them on blogs and online news articles makes the medium much more accessible. Small videos can also be used on the website to spread information. The research studies I would highlight include the rat hormone exposure study that looked at the effects of one dose of hormones on a female rat’s ovaries and neurological system, two studies that feature how in-utero exposure to toxins in plastic influence variations in infant behavior and reflex, and a study that discussed how there is a high chance of a link between prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and weight gain in children. I would represent the state of the science as “ongoing research” and that new conclusions are being formed all the time. In this way the website can act as an updating news source that focuses specifically on child development and toxic exposure. The kind of environmental and scientific literacy I would aim to cultivate through the website is one of which provokes its visitors into questioning what toxins are present in their immediate environment and to wonder if the risks are big enough that they would worry for the future health of their child. In this way the project aspires to spread environmental awareness, reduce toxins in the environment, and enact change through consumer choice. A “Go Fix It” strategy that the site can employ will include a searchable and browse-able database of known products that are unsafe for child development and a forum to ask and discuss about the topic, as well as recommended alternatives for the listed toxic products.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/2011/11/2011-1118-rat-hormone-affects-ovary-brain/
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/2011/09/2011-1101-prenatal-phthalates-infant-behavior/
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/2011/08/2011-0902-moms-phthalates-child-effects/
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/2011/11/2011-1116-pops-birth-weight-at-six/
15. Assess how each of these videos about problems with our food system would likely impact viewers. What message is delivered by each film? What does each accomplish, and not? Which audiences would be most responsive?
Transport: Food Miles
http://video.pbs.org/video/1362891727/
The Pig Picture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aukdZWNvDMs
The Meatrix
http://www.themeatrix.com/
In Transport: Food Miles, the video talks about how agriculture has changed from being a solar-based industry to a fossil-fuel one. Its main message really stresses how important it is to eat food that is produced locally. The film does a lot of in-depth coverage of how farmer markets and consumers have benefited from a personal exchange of healthy goods. I enjoyed the example of the restaurant in Pennsylvania that uses only locally produced food products and makes dishes for its menu based on what farmers can produce. I also found it especially inspiring that the restaurant owner was also able to organize such a great network of farmers, other restaurant owners, and Philadelphia citizens. However I noticed that while the video short claimed that the future meat (pigs and cows and the like) were treated much more humanely than slaughterhouses, they never touched on how these animals were killed on the sustainable farms. In addition, the director of the food market talked about how due to the fact that they were growing so much they had to start mirroring the bigger industry’s method of distribution. This makes me wonder if there is a line to where these operations should stop growing and if farmers cede to it. When the restaurant owner asked the farmer if he wanted more business, he said yes. However, at what point would more business constitute as too much business? When will it no longer be in their best interest to raise pigs and their other wares in their current sustainable way and when will they start to cut corners? I find that the audience that will be most responsive to this video would be people who live in large cities like Philadelphia or Los Angeles because there would be enough demand and interest to make projects like this feasible and relevant .
The Pig Picture’s main message is that factory farming is inhumane for the animals. Pigs that grow up in factory farms have been observed to exhibit behaviours similar to those of humans with extreme psychological problems. The pigs are also stressed due to living size constraints and the inability to properly care for their offspring. Natural instincts like the desire to make nests and forage for food are repressed. The lives of sows are the most stressful in that they are cycled through pregnancies as quickly as possible so that more pigs can be bred. The film also compares the natural and ideal behaviour of pigs to the life it is forced to have in a crate at factory farms pumped up on drugs and hormones. It also briefly mentions that the drugs used on the pigs become drug residue in our meat when we eat it. The audience that would be the most responsive to this video would be animal lovers and animal activists. It is also arguable that the video is slightly geared more towards women, in that women are statistically more likely to buy the groceries in a family, and therefore make the choices for which meat will be chosen. The video may seem more appealing to women because of its constant depiction of cute piglets and beautiful farm scenery juxtaposed to struggling and feces-covered baby pigs to invoke an emotional response. It is interesting to note that while the video condemns factory farming, it does not aim to convince its audience to stop eating meat, like other food-related documentaries. Instead, it just cautions the viewer to be aware of what they are supporting with their money and to opt for humanely raised pigs.
The Meatrix is a corny but educational animation that parodies the popular Matrix franchise. It uses its relevancy to a pop culture trend to appeal to audiences of a younger demographic and those who use the Internet. By keeping the video short enough to watch from an email and having the medium of choice be the cyberspace, the Meatrix became very successful with viral video marketing. The short video reveals that people usually think of a misconception when asked where their meat comes from. This misconception is that the pigs and other farm animals they eat all come from happy farms, able to roll in mud and have farmers call them by their names when they are fed. The reality is that the pigs and other farm animals are now coming from metal crates packed in factory-like settings that are unfit and dirty. Most animals never see daylight and can’t even turn around for the duration of their entire life. The video accomplishes its goal of spreading awareness by explaining the situation in a manner that is not so shockingly horrific due to its cartoon graphics, but is still able to instill a sense of urgency in the viewer to correct the problem. In this way the Meatrix aims to impact viewers in such a way that free-range products and organic food products will be much more preferable to buy than food produced from agro-corporations.
16. Write two exam questions that creatively test students’ analytic sophistication about environmental sustainability. Answer one of these questions.
List fifteen ways with different explanations in which you and your family can celebrate the holiday season with sustainable choices and five ways in which celebrations can be made sustainable from a regional (town or city) level. Include the effects the actions from a regional level will have on the environment and on people. Is it feasible to expect people to make this the expected social norm? How may this be achieved?
You are applying for grant that will fund a project to better your local community (Troy or a place you’ve lived in) in some environmental or sustainable way. The project must also encourage sustainable behaviour from people. Write about environmental problems your chosen location is currently experiencing, your project proposal (this only has to respond to one problem), and why you think it will work. Include relevant background information.
Honolulu, Hawaii has a major tourism industry with people flocking from all over the world to enjoy its sandy beaches, beautiful reefs, amazing culture, and pristine environment. People come to get married, go on vacation or honeymoons, compete in surf competitions, enjoy Hawaii’s rich and diverse historical context, or conduct business deals. This has rendered tourism in Hawaii to be a huge industry (and its main source of revenue)! Unfortunately, it is at a great cost. Local residents complain about how businesses are hiring people to move to Hawaii from the mainland instead of using local talent, and the displacement of workforce has led to other problems like space and overcrowding. In addition, businesses have to ship supplies often from the mainland to operate, a costly expenditure. There is also the issue of energy production, as Hawaii currently imports many of its energy sources. Trash, is another difficult to solve, due to the islands’ geography and the sheer amount of waste its residents produce. In fact, a famous beach and peninsula on Oahu called “Magic Island” is man-made, magically appearing overnight due to the displacement of trash and soil being dumped into the ocean by construction companies. Tourist behaviour is one of the biggest issues of all. Many tourists just won’t to relax in paradise. Since it’s not their home, it’s not their problem if the place gets trashed. They get to leave and forget about it. Sunscreen, makeup, and other creams tourists wear have caused massive coral bleaching in Hawaiian reefs, and coral degradation has also occurred due to physical damage by people swimming (possibly dancing) in the water. Ships (Naval and industry) that use Pearl Harbour dump their waste into the ocean, relying on dispersion as the primary method of waste removal. Developers who want to cater to tourists construct giant resorts that consume a lot of energy and add attractions that are harmful to the environment – horse walks on the beach at Discovery Bay? No wonder there are feces floating in the ocean water on that part of the island. Seafood restaurants contribute to overfishing in Hawaiian waters as well. In addition, many factories are built on Hawaiian soil, which adds to the negative perception of parts of Honolulu. Parts of the City of Honolulu have been referred to as “extremely ghetto”, as homeless people, gray metal fences, ugly buildings, stray starving dogs, introduced pests like rats, roaches, and mongoose, tar laden streets, and air pollution, are all that you’ll find there. Finally, (actually just the tip of the iceberg) agriculture in Hawaii (pineapple fields) have changed the overall island geography.
With the grant money I would produce a short film that would be played on all incoming flights to Hawaii’s airports. This film will implore visitors to explain some of the problems their actions might cause and to encourage them to make sustainable choices during their stay. A list of quick tips may be offered, like to not touch the sea turtles (this is illegal) and to be careful of what products get into the ocean. To better involve the community, local residents would be featured, telling the viewer why Hawaii’s environmental health is important to them. A website with a memorable URL will also be available to provide more information – including an approved list of activities, businesses, restaurants, and hotels that people can reference. This will improve relations between tourists and locals and remind tourists that they are the biggest impacts to the environment on the Hawaiian Islands.
I believe that the film will have an impact on tourists because they would be required by the airline to watch it, similar to safety instructional speeches. Most environmental films’ messages travel slowly, because not everyone is interested or is able to watch them, whether because they don’t know it exists or they don’t believe the subject is relevant to them. Since Hawaii is an island, the only feasible way for people to come in and out is through airplane therefore - voila! Look, it’s an instant captive and relevant audience! From them on, it is (informed) consumer choice and buyer beware.
17. Write a 400-word biosketch that describes where you will be and what you will have accomplished twenty years from now. The biosketch should be narrative rather than resume style. Include basic biographical and educational information, the expertise you have built and have become known for, and a brief description of important projects you have been a part of over this period of time. For an example, see the Wikipedia entry for Paul Farmer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Farmer)*
*See hard copy